Vignette – Workman Arts, Toronto, https://workmanarts.com

“STORIES OF NOW” is part of a project ArtBridges is working on with Judith Marcuse Projects’ ASCN (Arts for Social Change Network) and ICASC. It is about gathering and sharing stories emanating from the field now and about what issues and areas of focus matter. 

In conversation with: Kelly Straughan, Executive Artistic Director, on March 3rd, 2022

If you could tell a story about your community-engaged arts initiative now, this year, what would the story be about? What are the main themes?

KS: I think on the positive side – what it’s allowed us to do is see how going virtual can benefit members – our 500 members. We used to wonder if we could move things more virtually and that maybe people would like to engage more virtually. Fast forward- we’re able to do it!  We, like a lot of arts organizations, were amazed at how innovative it could be to offer virtual art classes, choir improv classes, metal work classes, etc. It’s an interesting puzzle – if it weren’t for (pandemic circumstances) this discovery would not have happened. 

We have a core group of about 150 – 200 participants invested in 20 – 25 art classes a week. This has scaled up our projects.

What are the main issues your community-engaged arts initiative faces? (e.g., social justice, environmental justice, pandemic-related, operational, financial, HR)

KS: So many! Naturally this is about serving a marginalized, vulnerable community – many people are on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program).  Our core members who we deeply engage with day to day are more vulnerable – they have housing issues, some are in and out of shelters, have food insecurity and added pressures. Members have to have the basics of life to be able to actually engage in art processes. Now that we are dealing with virtual, some members need us even more – many don’t have access to the internet or computers, so we purchased 30 ipads and cell phone programs, so that people could participate.

How has your initiative been addressing these main issues?

KS: Supplying the 30 purchased ipads; redirecting funds from the arts council for immediate covid support, really looking at funds we were using before, and reallocating them, looking at the cost of groceries, creating food bursaries, food vouchers for $100 – supplied by the TD bank. Redirecting funds to help people survive day to day. Moving in that direction more. 

How has the community of participants that your initiative engages with evolved in the past year (if at all)?

KS: Our artists support each other all the time, our members are instructors as well, people have maintained peer level of support, members are also peer supporters. 

We have a virtual ‘front desk’ on Facebook. This evolved from the membership. It’s lovely to see how members can give back and keep making connections through it all. Through this front desk, a member can call if they’d like to chat. Members provide peer support, instructors provide peer support – it can help. In the classes – the virtual ones, members can help other members with any digital support, too. Members supporting members – this makes our program seem less clinical.

How is your organization engaging with your community right now? (Logistics, pandemic public health and safety guidelines & policies, changes in the way we gather)

KS: Our major partner is CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) and our physical office is in the hospital. They need to be cautious when easing Covid restrictions and move more slowly than the rest of the province. So at this time, our work remains totally virtual. We’ve done mailing, drop-offs and pick-ups of art supplies to members to get them materials they need to paint and make art.

What are one or two new projects your initiative implemented this year?

KS: One would be – the Slate Family Foundation is big on mental health support – Workman Arts was one of the recipients of their support throughout the GTA. This helped us to create a scaling project and decentralize our work – it’s called the Workman Arts Satellite Programs. 

New folks…our class sizes have grown, our core membership people rely on classes, and with virtual access – the classes have grown. We also noticed with the Rendezvous with Madness festival, people were logging on from other places.

What is your initiative doing new–digitally–compared to pre-pandemic?

KS: …We will keep the virtual part; it’s allowed people to participate in ways they haven’t before. How can we maintain this model and not put extra stress on the instructor? and work in a hybrid format? There are members that feel like they can participate in more classes because we offer virtual ones. 

We were not doing ‘virtual’ before, not at all. We had an idea – we noticed that 50 members at most – were not doing anything with computers, so we mailed them some.  This (the pandemic) has coerced people into technology – this has been huge for members. We asked a member with tech savvy to show people how to log onto zoom to be able to engage in the virtual workshops. It’s so lovely to see. Peer support is a major part of our work. We have up to 500 members. We hired Nate for one day a week to help everyone to get in touch – even learn how to turn on a computer.

Is there a recent achievement, wonderful moment, or quote you’d like to share about your initiative or its impact? 

KS: So many – specifically – when we moved to reallocate a lot of our funds to food gift cards for our holiday gathering and give out 100 Walmart cards, there was a real level of appreciation. We stepped outside of our core business of arts and recognized that this was the need. We got heart-felt feedback – that it was making a difference. 

Organizationally, as we don’t rely on box office revenues, we have been able to survive – we’ve done ‘pay what you can’, we’ve been well equipped to survive. 

Reducing social isolation- we already do it!  it’s our mandate – through all of this, we are staying true to our values – our mandate.

In conversation with Seanna Connell, ArtBridges  sconnell[at]artbridges.ca

Find Workman Arts on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

BEING SCENE 21ST ANNUAL EXHIBITION
In-Person and Online:  March 31 – May 31 2022
workmanarts.com/being-scene-2022